Education funding is increasing to accomodate an expected increase in student enrolment in September 2023.
Over the next three years, the operating expense for Education is increasing by nearly $2 billion. This will go towards the hiring of approximately 3,000 education staff including teachers, educational assistants, bus drivers, and support staff.
A total of $820 million, outlined in Budget 2023, will go towards supporting enrolment growth over the same time period.
“With Alberta’s rising population, we know many school authorities across the province continue to face growing enrolment pressures,” said Minister of Education Adriana LaGrange. “Our strong funding commitment in Budget 2023 will empower school authorities to hire more teachers and obtain more resources for students.”
Watch the Press Conference
Funding increases for enrolment will be provided through existing grants with enrolment components. Such grants include the Early Childhood Services and Grades 1-9 Base Instruction grant, and the High School (Grades 10-12) Base Instruction grant. It also includes services and supports grants such as Specialized Learning Support, English as an Additional Language, and Program Unit Funding, as well as the Operations and Maintenance grant.
The Funding Manual for School Authorities 2023/23 School Year were released on March 9, providing school authorities with funding information for the coming year.
“ASBA is pleased that government has been responsive to school boards’ requests for early release of the funding manual and operational funding profiles, as it assists in informed decision-making,” said Alberta School Boards Association President Marilyn Dennis. “Government’s investment in enrolment growth is welcome news as boards address the growing, diverse and complex students needs within their divisions while remaining accountable to their communities.”
The province says the supplemental enrolment growth grant that provided school authorities with more than $21 million in additional funding will continue to be available in the 2023-24 year.
In both 2020-21 and 2021-22 academic years, school boards were funded for about 730,000 students, where attendance was 705,000 and 716,000, respectively.
Red Deer-North constituents with questions, concerns or comments can reach out to the local constituency office via the form on the contact page or by phoning (403) 342–2263.
Anyone looking to send comments directly to the Minister of Education is asked to contact the Office of the Minister of Education at education.minister@gov.ab.ca or (780)427-5010.
Amendments will be coming to further strengthen the justice system.
As part of the omnibus Bill 9 – the proposed Red Tape Reduction Statues Amendment Act, 2023 – prolific violent offenders will not be able to access income support. Alberta’s court judges will also see their title elevated to justice in the Provincial Court of Alberta.
“The amendments introduced take action to strengthen Alberta’s justice system,” said Minister of Justice and Attorney General Tyler Shandro. “These changes are part of a series of efforts that we have made over the course of our term in office to strengthen and reform the justice system.”
The Alberta Crown Prosecution Service estimates that there are about 4,200 violent offenders in Alberta, as of Feb. 8, 2023, with outstanding warrants for arrest. Under current legislation, those on the run may still be entitled to receive income support.
If Bill 9 passes, the Income and Employment Supports Act would be amended to close the loophole. This would suspend income support intended for basic needs such as food, clothing and shelter. Once the arrest warrant is executed or cancelled, income support benefits would resume.
It would not suspend financial support for health benefits, or other provincial benefit programs such as AISH, Alberta Seniors Benefit, and Transition to Adulthood and Foundational Learning Assistance.
Regulations would outline what offences would trigger benefit suspension.
B.C. and Manitoba already have legislation in place that allows them to suspend provincial benefits. Saskatchewan has introduced legislation to this end as well.
Elevating Alberta’s court
Changing the title of judge to justice in the Provincial Court of Alberta would make the judicial title consistent with justices of Alberta’s Court of King’s Bench and the Court of Appeal of Alberta.
It is part of a series of reforms initiated by Alberta’s government to strengthen and elevate the Provincial Court of Alberta, which will be renamed Alberta Court of Justice effective April 1.
The provincial court handles more than 100,000 criminal cases, 17,000 family and child protection cases, and about 10,000 civil cases each year. With locations in 72 communities, the provincial court is the most accessible and affordable court system in Alberta.
Trespassing laws will also be strengthened. Learn more about changes to trespassing legislation on the Red Deer-North site here.
See the full news release on the Government of Alberta website here.
Red Deer-North constituents with questions or comments can reach out to the local constituency office via the form on the contact page. They can also reach the office by phoning (403) 342–2263.
Alberta’s Fuel Tax Relief Program will not be ending in June.
The Alberta government says Albertans will continue to benefit from the program after June 2023 based on the average price of oil.
The Fuel Tax Relief program was first introduced on April 1, 2022 and is designed to provide savings on a graduated scale. It is reviewed quarterly and remains in effect as long as the average price of WTI is above US$79.99 per barrel.
Fuel Tax Relief collection
+$90 WTI – Collection paused (0 cents/litre)
$85-$89.99 – Partial Collection (4.5 cents/litre)
$80 – $84.99 – Partial Collection (9 cents/litre)
$79.99 – Full Collection (13 cents/litre)
As of Dec. 31, 2022, the program provided Albertans with an estimated $850 million dollars in fuel tax relief. That was with a 4.5 cent/litre tax in place for the last quarter.
On Jan. 1, 2023 the government announced a full lifting of the 13.6 cent per litre provincial fuel tax on gasoline and diesel until June 30. Estimated savings for someone driving a car is $163 over six months, and $444 for someone driving a truck over the same time period.
These measures have made it possible for Alberta to have some of the lowest gas prices in Canada.
The provincial government is committed to making life more affordable for all Albertans through the Affordability Action Plan.
Alberta’s government is working on strengthening trespass laws through Bill 9.
The proposed legislation, if passed, would make language changes to clarify the federal government would be subject to existing trespass penalties if entering an Albertan’s property without lawful reason.
The government says this shows their commitment to protecting Albertans’ property rights, including in rural and remote areas.
“I want to commend Alberta’s government for amending trespass legislation to clarify and raise the profile of the right of landowners to control access to their property,” said Peter J. Dobbie, KC, farmers’ and property rights advocate for Alberta.
“This renewed focus on property rights is a refreshing and positive step forward for property owners in Alberta.”
Prevention of inadvertent crop disease spread is one of the main reasons for the changes. Alberta’s government says landowners should be provided with the common courtesy of advance notice of planned entry. This would allow farmers and ranchers to make certain those entering their land know how to mitigate the risk of disease spread.
Despite amendments, property owners are advised they can still be held responsible for their actions in a trespassing situation. They are advised to call law enforcement to deal with people believed to be trespassing.
The legislation will not limit police powers, nor prevent federal employees with legal authority from entering a private property.
Alberta is not the first province to look at this type of legislation. Saskatchewan made similar changes to their trespass legislation to state that it binds the federal government in Nov. 2022. However, the proposed legislation has yet to pass.
The changes are just part of those outlined in Bill 9. See the full news release on the Government of Alberta website here.
Red Deer-North constituents with questions or comments can reach out to the local constituency office via the form on the contact page. They can also reach the office by phoning (403) 342–2263.
Wishing a very Happy Purim to all those celebrating in Red Deer-North and across Alberta.
Today until nightfall, Jewish people will celebrate Purim. The holiday commemorates the saving of the Jewish people from annihilation by Haman, an official in the ancient Persian Empire.
Celebrations include dressing up in costume, eating a festive meal, and listening to the Book of Esther in a synagogue.
It’s a time to celebrate the strength and resilience of the Jewish people.
